Web Summit Rio to host Runway to Web Summit event in São Paulo

• Runway to Web Summit is a new community initiative that hosts small gatherings across the world to support and drive forward local technology communities
• The first LatAm edition of Runway to Web Summit will take place in São Paulo, on Tuesday March 26 
• Web Summit Rio will take place at Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro, from April 15-18, 2024

Web Summit will be holding a Runway to Web Summit event in São Paulo on Tuesday March 26. This event will showcase the local tech ecosystem in the city and offer a preview of what to expect at this year’s edition of Web Summit Rio. 

Runway to Web Summit is a community tech initiative that works year-round with its vast network of startups, investors and ecosystem leaders to help connect communities in a meaningful and strategic way. Web Summit will travel to cities around the world to highlight and showcase tech talent, connecting people and ideas changing the world. 

At the upcoming Runway to Web Summit in São Paulo, Web Summit VP of startup relations Richard Forde will speak with Gabriel co-founder Otávio Miranda, Telavita co-founder Lucas Arthur and more to discuss their entrepreneurial journeys, learn about funding, hiring and startup trends, and discover what to expect from Web Summit Rio.

“The startup ecosystem in Brazil is experiencing incredible growth right now, and São Paulo is such a hive of activity. Web Summit wants to provide year-round support for our startup community, helping startups connect with our global network. By hosting these Runway events in cities across the world, we hope to learn and understand more about the local startup ecosystems, see what we can do to help and become a part of the community ourselves,” said Web Summit VP of startup relations Richard Forde.

Web Summit previously held Runway events in Casablanca, Doha and Toronto in the run up to Web Summit Qatar and Collision respectively.

Web Summit Rio will take place in Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro, from April 15-18, 2024. Web Summit Rio 2024 will welcome more than 30,000 attendees, as well as 1,000-plus startups, 600-plus investors, 900-plus members of the media, 600-plus speakers and 210-plus partners. 

Speakers at Web Summit Rio include Grammy-winning Brazilian music icon Gilberto Gil; Signal president Meredith Whittaker; Mike Brock, CEO of TBD at Block; QuintoAndar co-founder and CEO Gabriel Braga; Brazilian YouTuber KondZilla; Monica Long, president of US crypto exchange unicorn Ripple; Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Paes; state governor of Rio de Janeiro Claudio Castro; Brazilian minister of science, technology and innovation Luciana Santos; and more. The full list of speakers can be found here. 

IBM, J.P. Morgan, Huawei, Banco Itaú, Startup Portugal and Swissnex are among the global companies partnering at the event and showcasing on the event floor. 

Web Summit Rio also partners with a number of community partners at each event – organizations, companies and agencies that support and prioritize underrepresented people across the technology industry. 

Community partners at Web Summit Rio include Transfero Academy, which provides opportunities for those who want to build a career in software development; ID_BR (Instituto Identidades do Brasil), an organization dedicated to promoting racial diversity; Rede Mulher Empreendedora, which will be hosting a roundtable on creating inclusive and equitable environments for women in STEM; and Djassi Africa, which will be bringing 25 startups – with a focus on African and Black founders – to Web Summit Rio.